Two goals in the space of three second-half minutes sealed a 3-1 win for St Johnstone and left Falkirk still seeking a win this season.

Bairns substitute Carl Finnigan cancelled out Collin Samuel's second-minute opener only three minutes after the break but the three points stayed at McDiarmid Park for the first time since Saints were promoted in the summer.

Home replacement Chris Millar regained his team the lead in the 64th minute and only two minutes later Murray Davidson made sure of the win following a mistake from Falkirk keeper Robert Olejnik.

St Johnstone could not have wished for a better opening to the match as they took the lead after only one minute and 23 seconds.

Dave Mackay's cross was not the best from the right flank but when Brian McLean misjudged the flight of the ball as he attempted to chest it away he only succeeded in setting up Samuel, who made no mistake.

The Bairns responded well to conceding such an early goal but the Perth men should have been two ahead in the 15th minute. Kenny Deuchar sent Samuel into the right-hand channel but when his cross perfectly picked out Liam Craig the midfielder somehow missed the open goal.

St Johnstone had enjoyed the perfect opening to the first half but it was Falkirk who came flying out of the traps following the break and finally found the incisiveness to grab the equaliser after only three minutes.

Marc Twaddle's ball forward was flicked on brilliantly by Kjartan Finnbogason for strike partner Finnigan and the former Newcastle youngster rattled his volley past the exposed Graeme Smith from just inside the box.

The strike stunned the home side but half-time substitute Millar sent Saints back in front in the 64th minute. An untidy attack climaxed with the ball falling for Millar on the right side of the area and his shot across Olejnik beat the keeper's despairing dive.

And within two minutes, the McDiarmid Park outfit effectively sealed the win with a third that was all down to Olejnik's error. Craig sent in a deep free-kick from the right and when Olejnik came and failed to gather the set piece Davidson headed in the ricochet from close range.